US customers will gain new access to Eleuthera and Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas from Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, with year-round weekly flights from December.

American Airlines will also be adding a new seasonal route between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, set to run from December to May.

The new flights, which will run on Saturdays, are part of an international expansion for the carrier, which is looking to increase its presence throughout the Caribbean. New routes announced this week include Aruba, Grand Cayman and Providenciales.

This year, American Airlines celebrated 30 years of operation in The Bahamas and reiterated its commitment to the destination which is one of its highest-performing in the region. The airline currently operates over 130 flights to six different destinations in the archipelago.

“[American Airlines] is the longest service airline traveling to the country from North America. They bring hundreds if not thousands of passengers to our country every day. They are operating critical hubs from Miami, Dallas, Charlotte and Philadelphia and allowing persons from our major gateways to come to The Bahamas and take advantage of our products that we have to offer,” said Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar.

“It’s so wonderful that they continue to see us as a growth market and to be involved in this wonderful journey that we are on in The Bahamas.”